Cabo Blanco 1936 2 bolivares
This specimen was lot 8574 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2022), where it sold for $192. The catalog description[1] noted, "VENEZUELA. Cabo Blanco. Leper Colony Brass 2 Bolivares Token, 1936. NGC EF Details--Scratches. Struck for the leprosarium in Vargas State, just north of the capital of Caracas. A boldly detailed token with dark toning throughout. The noted scratches are light and do not distract. Despite its imperfections, a presentable example that is pleasing to the eye. From the Centuria Collection." Leprosy, a disease common in underdeveloped countries, was long feared to be spread by casual contact. Victims were herded into colonies and forced to use special coinage. The leprosarium at Cabo Blanco issued a series of tokens in 1936 ranging from 5 centimos to twenty bolivares, all in brass. When the institution closed in the 1970's, the tokens were redeemed and are today rare.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: brass, 25 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM-L15.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Stohr, Tomas, El Circulante en la Capitania General de Venezuela, Caracas, Banco Central de Venezuela, 1998.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The 2022 NYINC Sale: World and Ancient Coins, featuring the Mark and Lottie Salton Collection and the Pat Johnson Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.
Link to: